Automatic key-selector key case

ABSTRACT

An automatic key-selector key case having a plurality of individual pivotally mounted key drawers each for holding an individual key and a single selector-release mechanism for selecting the desired key by opening the appropriate key drawer. The key drawers are spring biased to an open position and include a spring latch which engages a bracket to retain the key drawer in a closed position. The selector-release mechanism is a pushbutton dial which may be rotated to one of several indicia identifying the different key drawers and which is then depressed to disengage the spring latch of the selected key drawer. The selected key drawer automatically opens by virtue of the spring biasing the drawer.

United States Patent [191 Starrett [4 Aug. 6, 1974 AUTOMATIC KEY-SELECTOR KEY CASE Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe [76] Inventor: Rupert M. Starrett, 94 Housatonic g g X g i Flrm Garold Bramblett Ave., Stratford, Conn. 0 en uc es [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 325,043 An automatic key-selector key case having a plurality of individual pivotally mounted key drawers each for [52] U S C] 70/456 R holding an individual key and a single selector-release mechanism for Selecting the desired y by opening [51] lint. Cl A47g 29/10 the a to time ke drawer The ke drawers are 58 Field of Search 70/456-459; P Y

206/37 24/3 K spring biased to an open positlon and include a spring latch which engages a bracket to retain the key drawer losed position. The selector-release mechanism is [56] References Clted a c a push-button dlal which may be rotated to one of sev- UNITED STATES PATENTS eral indicia identifying the different key drawers and 2,560,595 7/ 1951 Poncar 70/456 R hi h i then depressed to disengage the spring latch 2,634,599 4/1953 NlCl'lOlSOll R of the elected key drawer The selected key drawer Engel 70/456 R automatically opens by virtue of the spring biasing the 3:321:943 5/1967 Reges 70/456 R drawer 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC KEY-SELECTOR KEY CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to key cases and more particularly to key cases of the automatic key selector type.

Heretofore, a number of automatic key-selector key cases have been proposed and commercially marketed. In fact, the inventor of the present invention has himself been granted two patents on such key cases. Although these automatic key cases have to some extent avoided the problems of conventional key cases, namely having to open the case and then select the proper key manually, and have been commercially successful, they have, however, had several disadvantages. For example, previously known automatic key cases have typically required a separate release mechanism for each key necessitating the user to locate the particular release mechanism for the key desired. In some prior known automatic key-selector key cases, these release mechanisms have been provided on opposite sides of the key case, thus making selection of the desired key even more difficult. Furthermore, in some of these previously known automatic key cases there has been the possibility of keys becoming entangled within the key case thereby making their operation difficult and in some cases interfering with the release mechanisms and actually breaking them. Furthermore, the provision of separate selector and release mechanisms for each key has increased the complexities and expense of previously known automatic key cases.

The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an automatic key-selector key case in which a plurality of key retainers are actuated by a single selector-release mechanism. This mechanism comprises a rotatable dial having a pointer which is pointed at indicia identifying the desired key and an easily actuable push button which, when depressed, extends the desired key. The keys are prevented from entanglement or interfering with the release mechanism by being held in individual drawer-like members in which the individual keys rest. Furthermore, the release mechanism is rugged and simple in structure thereby reducing its cost and insuring that it will be long lasting and endure numerous openings and closings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide an automatic key-selector key case which obviates and minimizes the disadvantages of previously known automatic key-selector key cases.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide an automatic key-selector key case for holding a plurality of keys and having a single selectorrelease mechanism for selecting the desired key.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic key-selector key case in which the individual keys are prevented from becoming entangled or interfering with the release mechanism.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic key-selector key case for holding a plurality of keys having a single selector-release mechanism which is rugged and simple in structure.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic key-selector key case in which the desired key is easily selected and released from the key case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These objects as well as further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a perusal of the appended claims and the following description when read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view. of an automatic keyselector key case of the present invention; v

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof with the front plate removed to show its internal construction;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken substantially along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section showing the details of the selector-release mechanism taken substantially along lines 44 of FIG, 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the release portion of the selector-release mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the push button and dial of the selector-release mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention as illustrated appears much like a conventional key case comprising a rectangular shaped case member 10 having a front plate 12 and a back plate 14 which may be joined together at the top and bottom by brackets 16. The front and back plates 12 and 14 may be suitably covered with a padded leather or leather-like cover or may be formed from a suitable plastic. The key case may be designed to carry any desired number of keys with the embodiment shown in the drawings being designed for four keys.

Each key 18 is carried by a pivoted drawer 20 with two drawers being pivoted at one corner 22 to be movable from a latched position between the front and back plates 12 and 14 and an outward open position in which the key 18 may be removed from its rest position in the drawer 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Two other drawers are pivoted at the diagonally opposite corner 24 and are shown in their closed position within the case. The key 18 is connected by a suitable key ring 26 which is attached to a bead chain 28 pivotally secured to the key drawer 20. The bead chain is pivotally connected to the drawer 20 to pivot fully in 360. This substantially minimizes the possibility of breaking the connection between the key 18 and the drawer 20 regardless of the relative movement therebetween. Of course, other suitable key retaining devices may also be utilized.

The front plate 12 further includes a push-button dial 30 having a pointer 32 and a plurality of radially extending ribs 34. In addition, numerals may be provided on the front of the face plate to indicate the particular key drawer 20 which is released to its open position when the pointer is directed toward that number. Alternatively, such terms as house key, car key and the like could be indicated on the face of the front plate 12.

Briefly, in operation, the details of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the desired key 18 is selected by turning the push-button dial 30 by means of grasping the ribs 34 so that the pointer 32 is directed to the indicia identifying the desired key. The pushbutton dial 30 is then depressed to release the particular key drawer 20 holding the desired key 18 so that it swings open from the sides of the key case 10 allowing the key 18 to be removed from the key drawer 20 and utilized.

The key drawer 20, as will be more readily apparent from FIG. 2, is a substantially triangular shaped member having a flat triangular plate 36 parallel to the front and back plates 12 and 14, and an upstanding edge 38 extending along the outer edge of the triangular plate 36 from the pivot point of the drawer 22 and slightly around the end opposite that pivot point. This edge 38 closes a portion of the area between the front and back plates 12 and 14 when the drawer is in its closed position within the case. The top edge 40 does not include an upstanding edge so that key 18 can be removed from the drawer 20 and left extended for use therethrough with drawer 20 closed within the case 10.

Each key drawer further includes a spring latch 42 having an upstanding lug 44 at the inner end thereof for engaging a latch engaging bracket within the case, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The drawer is pivoted around a rivet 46 extending through the drawers 20 to the back plate 14. A spring biasing the drawer 20 to its open position is provided by a conventional coil spring 48 having one end 50 abutting against the inner surface of the upstanding edge 38 and another end 52 abutting against a lug 54 secured to a middle plate 56 extending parallel to the front and back plates 12 and 14. The drawer 20 may also include an extension 58 having a flat portion 60 which engages lug 54 to limit the outward movement of the drawer 20 and an upstanding edge 62 integral with the edge 38 to close the area between the middle plate 56 and the top or bottom plates 12 and 14.

Similarly, another drawer 20 may be pivoted in the same manner below the drawer visible in FIG. 2 and two other drawers are pivotable in the same manner from the diagonal corner 24. Of course, it will be readily apparent that the present embodiment can be readily modified to provide more than two drawers on each side.

Referring to FIGS. 4, and 6, the push-button dial selector-release mechanism will now be described in greater: detail. The push-button dial 30 includes a cylindrical dial plate 64 having a central aperture 66 through the center thereof with the aperture having two reduced diameter sections to form shoulders 68 and 70. The ribs 34 for turning the dial as well as the pointer 32 are formed in the upper surface of the dial 64. The lower surface includes a cylindrical recess 72 and an outer cylindrical notch 74. The outer notch 74 is sized to allow the dial 64 to be seated in a circular aperture in the front plate 12 which may be recessed inwardly as at 76 so that the dial does not extend too far above the upper surface of the front plate 12.

The push button, which includes a cylindrical portion 78, an enlarged cylindrical head 80 and upper and lower release lugs 82 and 84, is seated within the aperture 66 and is dimensioned so that it may pass through the reduced diameter opening between shoulders 70. The cylindrical portion 78 further includes a cylindrical groove 86 about its periphery which, when seated in the dial 64, extends below the shoulders 70 so that a snap ring 88 may be engaged with it and seated in the recess 72 to prevent removal of the push button from the dial 64. The cylindrical portion 78 also includes an axially extending V-shaped follower groove 90 along its full length which engages a complementarily shaped extension 92. This extension 92 engages the push button in the follower groove 90 and causes it to follow the rotational movement of the dial. A coil spring 94 is provided around the cylindrical portion 78 which is held in position between the shoulders and the enlarged head of the push button.

The middle plate 56 includes upper and lower brackets 96 extending above and below it which engage the lugs 44 of the spring latches 42 when the key drawers 20 are in their closed position. The key release lugs 82 and 84 of the push button extend downwardly from the cylindrical portion 78 axially spaced from and at a angle to each other. These key release lugs 82 and 84 are dimensioned so as to engage the spring latch 42 of the selected key drawer 20 when the push button is depressed. The cylindrical portion 78 of the push button further includes a pin hole 98 which telescopically receives a pin 100 fixed to the inner surface of the bottom of back plate 14 to maintain the push button in axial alignment. A detent spring 100 having a detent ball 102, which engages spherical recesses in the bottom surface of the dial 64, is provided to insure that the dial 64 is correctly aligned so that either release lug 82 or 84 will engage the spring latch 42 of the selected key drawer 20.

In operation, when a particular key is desired the dial plate 64 is rotated by grasping the ribs 34 until the pointer is directed to the desired key and the detent ball 102 engages the appropriate recess. This rotation will, through the engagement of the projection 92 and the follower groove 90, cause the push button to rotate so that either lug 82 or 84 will be in a position to engage the spring latch 42 of the desired key drawer 20. The button is then depressed axially over the pin 100 compressing the coil spring 94 between the enlarged head 80 and shoulders 70 so that the appropriate release lug 82 or 84 engages the spring latch 42 of the selected key drawer 20 thereby disengaging it from its bracket 96. Under the tension of coil spring 48, the drawer 20 will swing open allowing access to the key 18 therein. The key may then be removed and positioned at the open portion 40 and the drawer 20 closed or the drawer 20 may be left in its open position.

The releasing of the selected drawer 20 by the release lugs 82 and 84 can be more clearly seen in FIG. 5. With four key drawers 20, the release lugs 82 and 84 are axially spaced and 90 apart from each other. This allows the upper and lower drawers to be engaged sequentially as the dial plate 64 is rotated. Corresponding to the numbering of FIG. 1, the push button in FIG. 5 is positioned with the dial pointer directed to four so that the upper release lug 82 will engage the spring latch 42 of the key drawer 20 number 4 when the button is depressed. The lower lug 84, at 90 to the upper lug 82, freely passes between the lower spring latches 42. If the dial plate 64 is rotated to point to number 1, then the lower lug 84 will engage the spring latch 42 of the number 1 key drawer 20 thereby opening that drawer. In this instance, the upper lug 82 will pass freely between the two upper spring latches 42. It will be readily apparent that if more than four key drawers 20 are desired, this may readily be accomplished by the addition of a further release lug axially between the upper and lower lugs 82 and 84 and at an angle corresponding to the positioning of the additional numbers of the face plate 12.

Thus, an improved automatic key-selector key case has been provided which is less complex than the previous automatic key-selector key cases inasmuch as only a single release mechanism is required, easier to use than previously known automatic key-selector key cases inasmuch as all the keys are selected by a single mechanism and less subject to breakage and entanglement to the keys inasmuch as a separate key drawer is provided for each key.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications may be made in this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only rather than limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic key-selector key case comprising:

a casing having a front and back plate secured together parallel to each other and defining a space therebetween;

a plurality of key retaining means connected between said front and back plates and movable from a closed position within said casing between said front and back plates and an open position extending beyond said front and back plates; and

a single selector and release device mounted in said front plate for selecting and opening all of said plurality of key retaining means including a rotatable dial which may be rotated to different angular positions to select any one of said key retaining means and a spring biased push button which releases the selected one of said plurality of key retaining means upon depression thereof.

2. An automatic key selector case comprising:

A. a casing having a front and back plate secured to gether parallel to each other and defining a space therebetween;

B. a plurality of key retaining means connected between said front and back plates and movable from a closed position within said casing between said front and back plates and an open position extending beyond said front and back plates, each of said key retaining means comprising 1. a plate member parallel to said front and back plates,

2. an outer edge perpendicular to said plate memher and adapted to enclose a portion of the space between said front and back plate,

3. a key holder mounted thereto, and

4. latching means for holding said key retainer means in its closed position within said casing; and

C. a single selector and release device mounted in said front plate for selecting and opening all of said plurality of key retaining means including selector means for selecting any one of said plurality of key retaining means and release means for causing said selected one of said plurality of key retaining means to move from its closed position to its open position.

3. An automatic key-selector key case comprising:

a casing having a front and back plate secured together parallel to each other and defining a space therebetween;

a plurality of key retaining means pivotally connected between said front and back plates and movable from a closed position within said casing between said front and back plates and an open position extending beyond said front and back plates and including means biasing said key retaining means to said open position and means for latching itself in said closed position; and

a single detector and release device mounted in said front plate for selecting and opening all of said plurality of key retaining means including selector means for selecting any one of said plurality of key retaining means and release means for causing said selected one of said plurality of key retaining means to move from its closed position to its open position.

4. The automatic key-selector .key case of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of key retaining means includes spring latching means for holding itself in said closed position; and

wherein said push button includes lug means for disengaging said latching means of said selected one of said key retaining means when said push button is depressed.

5. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 4 wherein said spring latching means comprises a leaf spring having a protrusion on its inner end for engaging a bracket within said casing; and

wherein said lug means extends into said casing from said push button to engage the inner end of said leaf spring of the selected one of said plurality of key retaining means to disengage it from said bracket upon depression of said push button.

6. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 5 wherein said key retaining means are pivotally mounted between said front and back plates with at least two thereof being positioned parallel to each other to move to their open positions at one side of said casing, the leaf spring of each engaging separate brackets mounted in spaced relationship between said front and back plates; and

wherein said lug means includes at least two lugs extending into said casing in spaced relationship to each other between said front and back plates and angularly disposed to each other about an axis perpendicular to said front and back plates, said push button and lug means being interconnected with said selector dial so that rotation of said selector dial causes said lug means to rotate to position either one of said lugs adjacent said leaf spring of the selected one of said key retaining means.

7. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 6 wherein said push button includes a cylindrical section from which lugs extend and an axially extending aperture in said cylindrical section in which a pin mounted to said back plate is telescopically received to maintain said push button in axial alignment.

8. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 7 wherein said key retaining means are spring biased to their open positions.

9. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 8 wherein each of said key retaining means comprises:

a plate member parallel to said front and back plates;

an outer edge perpendicular to said plate member and adapted to enclose a portion of the space between said front and back plate; and a key holder mounted thereto, said leaf spring being secured to said plate member. 10. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 9 wherein said brackets are mounted to a middle plate extending parallel to and between said front and back wherein said outer edge terminates adjacent the mounting point of said key holder leaving an opening between said front and back plates through which said key holder may extend even with the key retaining means in its closed position.

STATES PATENT OFFICE E GT1 ON Patent 3.827.263 Dated Auguqt 6. M74

Inventofls) Rupert M. Starrett It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4;; line 65, change o-f (second occurrence) to en -u Column 6, line 4, change "detector" to -selector--.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day @f Oember 197 (SEAL) Attemtz MeCOY Mn GIBSON JRa C. MARSHALL DANN Attestimg Ufficer Coissioner of Patents FORM PCO-1050 (1069) uscomM-Dc 60376-P69 v! u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: IN!) 0-366-33l. 

1. An automatic key-selector key case comprising: a casing having a front and back plate secured together parallel to each other and defining a space therebetween; a plurality of key retaining means connected between said front and back plates and movable from a closed position within said casing between said front and back plates and an open position extending beyond said front and back plates; and a single selector and release device mounted in said front plate for selecting and opening all of said plurality of key retaining means including a rotatable dial which may be rotated to different angular positions to select any one of said key retaining means and a spring biased push button which releases the selected one of said plurality of key retaining means upon depression thereof.
 2. an outer edge perpendicular to said plate member and adapted to enclose a portion of the space between said front and back plate,
 2. An automatic key selector case comprising: A. a casing having a front and back plate secured together parallel to each other and defining a space therebetween; B. a plurality of key retaining means connected between said front and back plates and movable from a closed position within said casing between said front and back plates and an open position extending beyond said front and back plates, each of said key retaining means comprising
 3. a key holder mounted thereto, and
 3. An automatic key-selector key case comprising: a casing having a front and back plate secured together parallel to each other and defining a space therebetween; a plurality of key retaining means pivotally connected between said front and back plates and movable from a closed position within said casing between said front and back plates and an open position extending beyond said front and back plates and including means biasing said key retaining means to said open position and means for latching itself in said closed position; and a single detector and release device mounted in said front plate for selecting and opening all of said plurality of key retaining means including selector means for selecting any one of said plurality of key retaining means and release means for causing said selected one of said plurality of key retaining means to move from its closed position to its open position.
 4. latching means for holding said key retainer means in its closed position within said casing; and C. a single selector and release device mounted in said front plate for selecting and opening all of said plurality of key retaining means including selector means for selecting any one of said plurality of key retaining means and release means for causing said selected one of said plurality of key retaining means to move from its closed position to its open position.
 4. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of key retaining means includes spring latching means for holding itself in said closed position; and wherein said push button includes lug means for disengaging said latching means of said selected one of said key retaining means when said push button is depressed.
 5. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 4 wherein said spring latching means comprises a leaf spring having a protrusion on its inner end for engaging a bracket within said casing; and wherein said lug means extends into said casing from said push button to engage the inner end of said leaf spring of the selected one of said plurality of key retaining means to disengage it from said bracket upon depression of said push button.
 6. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 5 wherein said key retaining means are pivotally mounted between said front and back plates with at least two thereof being positioned parallel to each other to move to their open positions at one side of said casing, the leaf spring of each engaging separate brackets mounted in spaced relationship between said front and back plates; and wherein said lug means includes at least two lugs extending into said casing in spaced relationship to each other between said front and back plates and angularly disposed to each other about an axis perpendicular to said front and back plates, said push button and lug means being interconnected with said selector dial so that rotation of said selector dial causes said lug means to rotate to position either one of said lugs adjacent said leaf spring Of the selected one of said key retaining means.
 7. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 6 wherein said push button includes a cylindrical section from which lugs extend and an axially extending aperture in said cylindrical section in which a pin mounted to said back plate is telescopically received to maintain said push button in axial alignment.
 8. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 7 wherein said key retaining means are spring biased to their open positions.
 9. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 8 wherein each of said key retaining means comprises: a plate member parallel to said front and back plates; an outer edge perpendicular to said plate member and adapted to enclose a portion of the space between said front and back plate; and a key holder mounted thereto, said leaf spring being secured to said plate member.
 10. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 9 wherein said brackets are mounted to a middle plate extending parallel to and between said front and back plates, said middle plate including a central aperture through which said lug means and said pin extend.
 11. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 9 wherein said key holder is pivotally mounted so as to allow full 360 degree rotation thereof.
 12. The automatic key-selector key case of claim 9 wherein said outer edge terminates adjacent the mounting point of said key holder leaving an opening between said front and back plates through which said key holder may extend even with the key retaining means in its closed position. 